1- Anal fissure: usually caused by straining due to constipation or diarrhea. An anal fissure is like a cut at the level of the perianal area. Anal fissures are painful. Typically, after having passed stools, the patient would notice dripping of fresh blood, or notice blood on the toilet paper. If the fissure fails to heal on its own, Sitz baths (sitting in warm water with iodine solution) 2-3 times daily and application of a topical antibiotic cream usually help.

2- Hemorrhoids: internal hemorrhoids, which are commonly localized in the rectum (the pouch-like structure that represents the last segment of the large intestines before reaching the anus), may be a source of painless bleeding; medically, we call it fresh blood per rectum or hematochezia. If you have external hemorrhoids, then you may also have internal hemorrhoids which explain the blood that you are seeing

3- Infections: intestinal infections usually cause diarrhea or loose stools intermixed with blood and can be foul smelling.

4- Inflammation: due to an allergy to certain food types, or inflammatory bowel disease (a disease of the autoimmune category, whereby the immune system attacks the intestinal tissues; associated with joint symptoms and weight loss).

It is recommended that you seek medical attention at the doctor's office to get the correct diagnosis and proceed with treatment in needed.